Metter's still meeting with her team to come up with a precip plan for Saturday. "The venue itself poses a little bit of a challenge, but we're looking at options in the event of rain (and) as much tenting as possible for that space," she said.

As the delicious apotheosis of the week-long San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, the Grand Tasting sets up music stages and booths along the slopes of Embarcadero Park North. The latter dole out bites and sips - The restaurant lineup has places you know like Bice, Donovan's, Harney Sushi, El Vitral, Nobu, Red Pearl Kitchen, Romesco, R Gang Eatery, Grant Grill, Oceanaire, The Shores, Truluck's, Vela, Viejas, West Steak and Seafood. (Last year Kitchen 1540 and Bertrand at Mister A's were on the list.)

And in case you haven't noticed on the Bay Wine & Food website, the banner logo, designed by festival artist Michael Summers, has an urbane looking woman holding a glass of wine... and an umbrella. Prescient?

Of the other festival events, we hear that the Italian master cooking class with chef Suzette Gresham (San Francisco's Michelin-rated Acquerello) is sold out. And if you're big into wine collecting you don't want to miss the Reserve Tasting event Nov. 18. Poll: What's the biggest draw at this year's festival? Vote here.